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Empowerment of women

9 March 2005, 18:00 PM
LIFESTYLE
By Karim Waheed
9 March 2005, 18:00 PM
A thought provoking photograph by Snigdha Zaman.Courtesy: Drik Gallery
Over the years, International Women's Day has taken to the streets, sparked off a revolution, met cozily at luncheons and concerts, rubbed shoulders with Prime Ministers and Mayors, demonstrated at the doors of newspapers and welfare institutions, occupied empty houses intent on gaining shelter for homeless women and has ushered in reform legislation. The socialist women in the United States organised the first national Women's Day in 1908 and helped to inspire the international event. The day has been seen as a time for asserting women's political and social rights, for reviewing the progress that women have made, or as a day for celebration. In keeping with its early radical traditions, some prominent feminists declared that it was not a time for celebration, but rather a day for anticipating all the struggles ahead when the women may eventually and forever stamp out the last vestige of male egotism and their desire to dominate over women.

This axiom was the theme of the Indhon organised programme Joley Uthi Shahoshi Nari (Spirited valiant women) on March 8, 2005 to celebrate the International Women's Day. The celebrations included a photography exhibition, presentation of an award of honour and a book-launch. Poetry recitation and songs were also rendered throughout the programme.

The photography exhibition included the works of 19 professional and emerging photographers. The themes of the photos were diverse, such as Nahar Ahmed on anti-fatwa and anti-Iraq war rallies in Bangladesh, Sayeeda Khanum on Poet Sufia Kamal. Snigdha Zaman's unusual treatment of a model in her photographs and Sanjida Shaheed's Meyerao Manush enticed the viewers in particular.

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The Award of Honour was presented to Begum Ayesha Zafar for her lifelong endeavour to keep Rokeya Sakhwat Hossain's ideals and memory alive. Ayesha began her work nearly 40 years ago and her efforts paid off: a college and a memorial in Rokeya's name and renewed publication of Rokeya's literary work. Tasmina Hossain, editor of women's magazine Anannya, awarded the crest to Ayesha on behalf of Anannya.

Debjani Sengupta's book, Mapmaking: Partition Stories from Two Bengals was launched at the program. The book was discussed by Debjani herself and her peers. Other writers included in Mapmaking are Ritwik Ghatak, Manik Bandyapadhyay, Pratibha Basu, Dibendu Palit and Atin Bandyapadhyay.

Pragna Laboni charmed the audience with her poetry recitation. Sharmin Shati Islam and others rendered inspirational songs.

Prominent members of Indhon were also present.

Indhon hopes to encourage the empowerment of women at all levels of our society through cultural events and activities.